A Weekend Getaway In Abingdon, Virginia

Where To Stay, Best Restaurants, and Things To Do In Historic Abingdon, VA

Abingdon, Virginia is a beautiful, quaint historic town located in the foothills of southwest Virginia. It has terrific restaurants, a historic Main Street lined with brick sidewalks, the famous Barter Theater, and plenty of things to do for the outdoor enthusiast. 

For my family, we repeatedly visit Abingdon to bike various sections of the Virginia Creeper Trail (a 34 mile rails to trails pathway) and dine in Abingdon’s terrific restaurants.

Too busy to plan a getaway to Abingdon, VA? No worries, we’ve already done it for you! Read on!

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Day 1- You’ve Arrived!

Day 1- Check-In To Your Lodging

From chain hotels to historic inns, you’ll find plenty of lodging options in Abingdon.

The Martha Washington Inn, an attractive and historic hotel, is the place to stay for a memorable but expensive experience. If you can book on a weekday, you will get a less expensive rate. Also, check out their package deals that include lodging and biking the Creeper (if you need a shuttle or rental bikes).

Another attractive lodging option is to rent a vacation home near Abingdon’s historic district. Here is an example, and I’ve listed more at the end of this post.

Quaint Abingdon Cottage Downtown 420 East Valley Street. VRBO 1939056. 2 bedroom, 1 bath, sleeps 4. Within a 2 block walking distance to historical Abingdon District, local restaurants and the Virginia Creeper Trail is just a few short blocks away.

The hotels that dot I-81 near Abingdon and Bristol are generally a less expensive option. The closest hotels to Abingdon are the Hampton Inn by Hilton and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites.

Both hotels are well reviewed, offer a free breakfast, and are less than 5 minutes from Abingdon’s historic downtown and the Virginia Creeper Trail.

Day 1- Stroll Abingdon’s Historic Main Street

Walk the brick-lined streets of Abingdon’s 20 square block downtown historic district which dates from the late-18th century to the mid-20th century.

At The Arts Depot, a restored railroad station from 1870, you can watch painters, potters and fabric artists at work inside. 

Located in the core of Abingdon’s historic district, be sure to stop to admire the Tavern (Virginia’s oldest pub and Abingdon’s oldest building-now a restaurant), the Abingdon Bank Building, and the unique Dr. William H. Pitts House.

From here, you can continue east on Main Street, making stops at:

• The Martha Washington Inn
• Barter Theatre
• Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church
• Washington County Courthouse

See the Abingdon walking tour at Clio, a non-profit website providing guides for the public to learn about historic sites.

Day 1- Enjoy A Tasting At Abingdon Vineyard

Located in Alvarado Station just 20 minutes from the historic district, Abingdon Vineyard has a beautiful tree-lined setting right on the Watauga River.

Enjoy a flight of sweet or dry wines at this family-friendly and dog-friendly winery. There’s a small kids area with some toys to entertain the kiddos while you enjoy sipping wine at one of their many picnic tables along the river.

You can even bring a kayak here or let the kids splash in the water.

They sometimes have live music and a food truck, and you can also bring your own food (if ordering wine) or order snacks (cheese and crackers) to enjoy while there.

Check their website for food truck and live music schedules. They generally open at noon.

P.S. You could bike to Abingdon Vineyard on the Virginia Creeper Trail (see below).

Day 1- Dinner In The Historic District

Fortunately for you, Abingdon is a known foodie town, so you’ll find plenty of good local options.

Having won the USA Today’s “Best Small Town Food Scene” for several years in a row, it has become a mountain town dining destination as well.

The Tavern (built in 1779), 128 Pecan, and Rain are popular mainstays in the Abingdon dining scene.

Check out Luke’s Cafe for terrific fish tacos, salads, sandwiches or Mama Mia if you need an Italian fix.

And of course, every mountain town needs a good craft brewery and Abingdon has a good one at Sweet Bay Brew Company.

Day 2- Bike The Virginia Creeper Trail

One of my favorite things to do in Abingdon is bike the Virginia Creeper Trail.

It’s an incredibly scenic bike route, and I love that the scenery changes depending on which section you ride. The trail runs through flat farmland and pastures around Abingdon to river crossings, long trestles (bridges) and forested mountains with mountainside streams near Damascus and Whitetop.

And because it’s mostly on a wide, crushed gravel path, it’s easily biked on mountain bikes or hybrid bikes. All in all, it’s simply an incredibly entertaining and remarkably scenic ride.

If you’re more in a hiking mood rather than biking, we also like to drive 1 hour to see the soaring views and wild ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park. See our blog: 3 Easy Hikes in Grayson Highlands State Park.

Day 2- Breakfast

Head to The Girl and the Raven Cafe or White Birch Food and Juice to start your day with a great breakfast before your ride. (Both restaurants also serve lunch.)

Day 2- Bike From Whitetop To Damascus On The Virginia Creeper Trail- 17 Miles All Downhill

IMPORTANT! As of September 2024, this section is currently closed due to Hurricane Helene. Check trail status here. See our blog Biking The Virginia Creeper Trail for other route options.

You have several route options on the Virginia Creeper Trail. You can access the trail in Abingdon, but most riders choose to take a shuttle from Damascus up to Whitetop to bike the easy 17 mile downhill section back to Damascus.

For convenience, you can rent bikes from an outfitter in either Damascus or Abingdon and get shuttled up to Whitetop (a 30 min ride). Contact Adventure Damascus for bike rental and shuttle information for starting from Damascus (most popular). You can also rent bikes and reserve a shuttle in Abingdon from the Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop. Reserve ahead of time if you can as they can fill up on weekends. 

For this section of the trail, you may not even need to pedal for some of it- just coast down. You’ll encounter some flat stretches where you’ll pedal more than coast, but the going is generally easy. 

This is the most popular route not only because of its scenic mountain setting, but also because it is easy for any level of rider including kids, so it’s a great outing for the family.

Because you follow a mountain stream for much of it, bring a picnic and dip your toes in the cold water if it’s a hot day.

If you don’t stop for a picnic, plan on 2-3 hours on the trail with occasional stops for photos and water breaks.

Note: The popular, all-downhill section from Whitetop to Damascus section can be crowded on weekends during the summer and fall. For this reason, try to go on a weekday if at all possible. 

Tips For Biking The Whitetop To Damascus Portion Of The Trail

• Bring a rain jacket or jacket (in the cooler months). It can get chillier than you think as you build- up speed coasting downhill.
• Bring a basic first aid kit (bandaids for any tumbles).
• Bring a water bottle and a backpack for snacks.
• If you have some in your group who want to go faster, have them stop at the end of each trestle (bridge) to meet up with the rest of the group. There are dozens of trestles on this section of the trail.
• Note that you will not have cell service.

Option 2: Bike Or Hike The Virginia Creeper Trail From The Abingdon Trailhead

If you want to skip the shuttle, you can access the trailhead on Green Spring Road at the Virginia Creeper Trail Welcome Center near downtown Abingdon. You can simply choose to bike or walk for as long (or short) a distance as you’re able and then turn around.

It’s fun and beautiful whether you go 2 miles or 30. From Abingdon’s trailhead, it’s relatively flat but definitely not a “coasting” type of rid and you will have to pedal, unlike the downhill section from Whitetop.

A good destination from Abingdon might be a 8.5 mile bike ride to Abingdon Vineyard in Alvarado Station which is located 1/2 mile (note that this detour is on a road) from the Virginia Creeper Trail or bike to the Holston River Trestle (7.8 miles from Abingdon and turn around there).

See our Complete Guide to Biking The Virginia Creeper Trail for more details and route options.

Day 2- Lunch in Damascus

When arriving back in Damascus, grab lunch at the Damascus Diner in the Dragonfly Inn.

See our Complete Guide to Biking The Virginia Creeper Trail for more details and route options.

Day 2- Dinner

After all this biking or hiking, you’re bound to be hungry. Pick one of these popular restaurants: The Tavern (built in 1779), 128 Pecan, and Rain.

Day 2- Go To A Show At The Barter Theater

You can even take in dinner and a show at Abingdon’s famous and historic Barter Theater. Offering both theatrical performances and live music, it opened in 1933 making it the nation’s longest running professional theater.

Day 3- Have Brunch Before Heading Home

Before hitting the road, make a final stop for breakfast at Sister’s American Grill in the Martha Washington Inn.